ABC approves 39 liquor store permits in Benton County

The Alcohol Beverage Control of Arkansas approved 39 permits for new liquor stores in Benton County during the past three full days of hearings held in Little Rock. One last case, Lowell Liquor, was continued at the close of business on Thursday (July 18.)

The commission approved 17 applications on Thursday and denied five others.

The first liquor stores in the county are slated to open by mid-August, as the ABC requires a 30-day waiting period.
 
Following is the tally of stores by city:
Rogers 14
Bentonville 12
Lowell 3
Gentry 3
Bella Vista 1
Pea Ridge 1
Siloam Springs 1
Centerton 1
Garfield 1
Decatur 1
Praire Creek 1

See the this map for the exact locations.


Rick Crisman, deputy director of education for the ABC, said during a previous townhall meeting in Bella Vista that it is perfectly plausible some cities would not get a store because of the random nature of the lottery process.

“Rogers might get 15 or 5, it’s just the luck of the draw,” he said.

There were a total of 72 applicants that returned the paperwork and paid the fees to get into June lottery for 55 permits, which is based on the county’s population. Those lottery winners faced the ABC board this week after their proposed locations across Benton County were checked out by the commission.

On Tuesday (July 16), the board approved eight permits and denied three. Wednesday’s round handed out 14 permits and denied seven, most were declined because six of the proposed sites were deemed too close to a church. State law requires liquor store locations be a minimum of 1,000 feet from a church, school or daycare facility.

During Thursday’s proceedings the ABC approved 15 permits, and most of those were in Rogers and Bentonville. Garfield, Bella Vista and Pea Ridge each had one site approved.

A study conducted by the University of Arkansas estimated that Benton County was missing out on $33 million annually because of its “dry” status.  The county was “dry” from 1944 until a major campaign garnered roughly 40,000 signatures to get on the general election ballot in November 2012.

The rest they say is history, and voters overwhelmingly supported the “wet” initiative and the county began selling beer and wine this past spring.  More than 300 applicants submitted applications for retail liquor stores, but less than one-third of those completed paperwork and submitted the $2,000 fee. Not everyone who wanted a permit and won a lottery spot got the go-ahead to move forward. There were a total of 15 applicants whose proposed sites were denied over the past three days.

Crisman recently said the major reasons applications are denied is because the locations are too close to schools, churches and daycare facilities or the applicant already owns an interest in another liquor state in the state.

Robert McCurry was denied because the commission said he owns stock in Gild Corporation, doing business as Macadoodles. State law prohibits anyone with a financial interest in a liquor store from getting a second permit.

Crisman said for example Wal-Mart has the one permit in Arkansas in its Fayetteville Sam’s Club and while they can get beer and wine sale permits in multiple stores, they are not able to obtain another liquor store permit.

A denial can be appealed in circuit court within 30 days, according to a ABC spokeswoman. If there is no successful appeal, the ABC will offer those permits to the applicants next in line.

Tim Harrell, who operates Mac’s Get & Go in Bella Vista, received a conditional permit on Thursday. Two other applicants hoping to put stores in the city were denied.

Natalie Hasenbeck, with Bella Vista Wine & Spirits at 8830 W. McNelly Road, was denied because there were two churches within 1,000 feet of the proposed site on McNelly Road. Jerry Brown did not appear for the hearing and his proposed site at 17333 U.S. 71 was also denied.

The city of Rogers lost out on six proposed sites, and Bentonville applicants had four declined. Siloam Springs and Bella Vista also had applications declined.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS DECLINED
Lidia Almaraz, Rogers Liquor, 1303 Walnut, Rogers

Patrick Travis, Latte Da, 808 South 52nd St., Rogers

Stephen G. Baucom, Baucom’s Beverage, 2501 E. Central Ave., Bentonville

Jerry L. Brown, Bella Vista Liquor, 17333 Highway 71, Bella Vista

Joseph S. Capko, JJ’s Lakebound Liquor, 2403 No. 2nd Street, Rogers

Angela Cate, Squeaky’s Liquor, 206 S.W. 14th Street, Bentonville

Johnny L. Dillard, Veteran Spirits, 13977 Gentilly Road, Rogers

Eric C. George, High Spritis, 702 South Mt. Olive Street, Siloam Springs

Aimee R. Hasenbeck, Bentonville Wine & Spirits, 1720 So. Walton Blvd.,Bentonville

James R. Hasenbeck, Bob’s Liquor, 212 East Spruce, Rogers

Natalie S. Hasenbeck, Bella Vista Wine & Spirits, 8830 W. McNelly, Bentonville

Quintin W. Hilburn, Beaver Liquor, 1826 No. 2nd Street, Rogers

James C. Linstruth, Linstruth’s Wine and Liquors, 2501 North 4th St., Unit F, Rogers

Robert W. McCurry, Fine Wine & Spirits Store, 2503 SW “J” Street, Bentonville

Katherine K. Moore, Tipsy’s wine and Fine Spirits, 1705 So. 8th, Rogers

Patsy J. Simmons, Susie Q Liquor, 612 No. 2nd Street, Rogers

PERMITS APPROVED
Gary Eckel, Elkhorn Liquors, 16727 Highway 62, Garfield

Garland Hall, 1206 NW Walton Blvd. No. 4, Bentonville

Susan Hall, Jones Brother’s Beverage, 1206 NW Walton Blvd. No. 6, Bentonville

Sarah Gildenhaus, Guess Who, 3700 SE Rainbow Road, Bentonville

Jeffery Stokes, Stock Tank Liquor, 2270 Hwy. 412 E., Siloam Springs

Alayna K. Bennett, Mighty Nice Wine & Spirits, 3403 SE J Street, Bentonville

James T. WIllett, J & D Liquors, 14161 East Hwy. 12, Rogers

Angela Cate, Squeaky’s Liquor, 206 S.W. 14th Street, Bentonville
Heath Hasenbeck, Roger’s Wine & Sprits, 702 West Cypress Street, Rogers

Patrick Travis, Latte Da, 808 South 52nd St., Rogers

Sopheak Srunn, B J’s Liquor, 1902 S. 8th Street, Rogers

Judith Castor, The Liquor Steer, 215 W. New Hope Road, Rogers

Nicholas W. Southerland, Dr.’s Orders, 541 West Hudson Road, Rogers

John Lawrence, Junior’s Package Store, 2601 West Hudson Road, Rogers

Timothy Harrell, Mac’s Get & Go, 2822 Bella Vista Way, Bella Visa

Chad Smith, Chad’s Beverage Shop, 139 No. Curtis, Pea Ridge

Charles L. Jech, C & J Liquors, 129 Fowler, Suite A, Gentry

Brittany P. Wilks, B & G Liquor, 2100 W. Hudson, Ste. 4, Rogers

Sammy S. Leng, Kay’s Wine and Liquors, 2518 So. 18th, Rogers

Kyle D. Castor, II, Still at the Tracks, 401 W. New Hope, Rogers

Michael G. McGooden, McGoo’s, 2998 Hwy 412 East, Siloam Springs

Charles O. Reeves, Gentry Spirits, 129 Fowler Street, Suite D, Gentry

Erik P. Danielson, Walton Blvd. Wine and Spirits LLC, 406 Razorback Rd., Bentonville

Kerry D. Castor, City Sliquors, 1201 West Monroe, Lowell

Rita Bajwa, Beverage Mart Liquors, 7403 SW Regional Airport Blvd., Suite 2, Bentonville 

Michael F. McKenzie, Finnegan’s Wine and Spirits, 1301 No. Walton Blvd., Ste. 1, Bentonville

Matthew E. Giess, It’s All Good Liquor, 1717 West Walnut, Rogers

Joshua C. Kyles, Highway 12 Liquor, Corner of Hwy 12 & SW Bright Road, Bentonville

Lillian E. Fowler, Bridge Store Liquor, 15479 E. Highway 12, Rogers

Kym M. Reeves, 102 Liquors, 2501 No. 4th Street, Ste. A, Rogers

Jeremy D. Avance, Crossroads Liquor, 1401 So. Walton, #15, Bentonville

Nathan D. Strayhorn, Nathan’s, 1220 East Centerton Blvd., Centerton

Sheldon J. Nuhfer, Wine Basket, 207 East Monroe, Suite B, Lowell

Christopher E. Moore, Fosters Spirit Shop, 2090 W. Pleasant Grove Rd., Rogers

Sokunthea Sou, Tims Discount Liquor, 2328 So. 8th Street, Rogers

Parminder Singh, Liquor Haven, 1200 SE 14th, Suite 2, Bentonville

Vance M. Puttkammer, L. A. Liquors, 504 West Monroe, Lowell

Phillip E. Lee, South Walton Spirits, 1104 So. Walton Blvd., Bentonville
Timothy Witcher, T-N-T Liqour, 1190-A Hwy 59S, Decatur
Keith Smithpeters, Praire Creek Liquor, SW Corner of Stoner & HWY 12, Praire Creek